VERY BASIC CPU Question

[HardwareSurgeon]

Hi, I've very recently started reviving an old pc and was thinking about installing it with AMD A-8 processor (It's free from my brother old pc he doesn't use anymore). I am very new to hardware, like 2 week old. With the right peripherals and hardware replacement I want to make the pc my daily driver, which would include very, very basic tasks: streaming videos (youtube/netflix etc from 1080-4k possibly, but not really 4k), web browsing, office applications, and not much multi tasking; basically for high media consumption and basic school work. Maybe, maybe in the future the occasional gaming, but it isn't that much of a priority.

I was wondering if the A-8 would be suffice or if I should invest for a better processor. My realistic price cap for the moment is 200 but as I said, the A8 is a hand-me-down.

Thank You

 

[rgd1101]

need to know your full system spec, like mobo, psu, etc
There are 7th(or 8) gen for APU, what is the exact model?

 

[HardwareSurgeon]

need to know your full system spec, like mobo, psu, etc
There are 7th(or 8) gen for APU, what is the exact model?

I'll have to get back to you later The processor and rest of pc is with my brother and friend. Thanks for the quick response though.

 

[Ecky]

Most A8 CPUs would be good candidates for your uses. Intel's Core i3 would be a better choice in most cases if you're building from scratch, but since the CPU is a freebie, I'd definitely consider building a system around it.

 

[Zachary Singer-Englar]

I would make sure that the socket type of your motherboard matches your processor. Since you have't given us anything to work with other than the processor, checking that your mobo supports it is a good first step.

 

[HardwareSurgeon]

I would make sure that the socket type of your motherboard matches your processor. Since you have't given us anything to work with other than the processor, checking that your mobo supports it is a good first step.

So the actual with its current mobo and hardware isn't in my possession yet. But the "hand-me-down" cpu is coming with the full motherboard in tact except for the hardrive, which I'll just replace with the harddrive from the tower. I know these aren't specs, and I haven't named any specific gpu, cpu etc. models but this is what I know so far. I won't be able to esrcibe the current spec of the tower but I do have the hand-me-down mobo in my possesion- if someone can explain what APU and psu are.

Thanks

 

[Zachary Singer-Englar]

What you are receiving is an APU (Asynchronous Processing Unit) it performs the same functions as a CPU, but at a lower wattage. Essentially they are more efficient but less powerful CPUs.

A PSU is what provides power to the components in your computer. Essentially it takes 110-120v AC and converts that to DC at a range of voltages for your computer. You wont need a terribly high powered one, but you will need to know what the total power draw of your computer is to determine what wattage of PSU you need. A 500 watt power supply will cover you adequately.

 

[Ecky]

APUs are not more efficient but less powerful CPUs - it's a marketing term AMD came up with for CPUs with GPUs integrated into the die. AMD's APUs use almost twice as much power as Intel's Core i7 CPUs... which are also technically APUs.

 

[rgd1101]

APUs are not more efficient but less powerful CPUs - it's a marketing term AMD came up with for CPUs with GPUs integrated into the die. AMD's APUs use almost twice as much power as Intel's Core i7 CPUs... which are also technically APUs.

Should be better once AMD start moving them to 14nm next year.